Reflective marker



Jan. 13, 1953 w. L. MORSER REFLECTIVE MARKER Filed Jan. 10, 1951 m'vsu'ron ZUeZion L.Morse1- BY M Y'Wi/ ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFLECTIVE MARKER Welton L. Morser, Merced, Calif.

Application January 10, 1951, Serial No. 205,339

1 Claim.. (01. 116 63) This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a readily portable road marker, for temporary or emergency use, which is of novel construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a road marker which is easy to see in daylight, or at night when illuminated by vehicle headlights.

A further object of the invention is to provide a road marker, as above, wherein the marker includes a novel metallic band or shell fixed to a concrete body; such metallic band or shell providing a smoothe surface for the application of a light reflective substance.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a road marker primarily of concrete, and of a form and Weight distribution such that the marker is very stable and not easily upset or displaced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the marker with a novel socket arrangement for the reception of the post of a signal flag; such socket also serving for the attachment of a lifting bail.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a road marker which is designed for ease and. economy of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable road marker, and yet one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a, perspective view of the marker as in use, and with a signal flag in place.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the marker.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the mold showing one of the frusto-conical shells in place on the mold, but before pouring of the concrete body therein.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, and at present to Figs. 1 and 2, the marker comprises a portable but relatively heavy cylindrical body I which is squat; such body being formed of concrete. An upper portion of the body is frustoconical in configuration, while a lower portion of said body is of inverted frusto-conical form, the upper portion being of greater vertical extent than said lower portion. With this configuration of the body it is most stable, and when disposed along a highway for use it is not readily subject to upsetting or displacement.

The upper, frusto-conical portion of the body I is surrounded in matching relation by a metallic band 2 initially in the form of a separate shell, for the purpose hereinafter described.

About its upper and lower edges, the metallic band 2 includes an upper, outwardly deformed annular shoulder head 3, and a lower, outwardly deformed annular shoulder head 4; each bead being initially a radially inwardly opening channel into which the concrete of the body is cast and extends in holding relation.

The metallic band 2 has a reflective substance 5 applied extericrly thereto over its entire surface; this refiective substance, in addition to enhancing visibility of the marker in daylight, causing such marker, 1. e. the band 2, to glowat night-under the influence of the headlights of vehicles traversing the highway. The refiective substance 5 may be of the type available on the market under the name of Scotchlite."

By reason of the fact that the upper portion of the body I, and the metallic band with light reflective 5 thereon, tapers upwardly, the marker is much more visible to the driver of an approaching vehicle than would be the case if the light reflective substance were on a vertical surface.

An upstanding tubular socket 6 is embedded in the concrete body I centrally thereof, with the upper portion of said socket projecting out of the body; 1. e., to a termination above the top of said body.

The socket B is adapted for the reception, in removable relation, of the lower end of a post I which carries a signal flag 8.

When the marker is not in use and is to be transported, the post I is removed from the socket 6; the marker then being picked up by means of a bail 9.

The bail 9, which is of elongated U-shape, has lower end tips H! which are turned laterally toward, and pivoted in connection with, opposite sides of the portion of the socket 6 which projects above the body I. With this arrangement, the bail 9 normally lies fiat on top of the body, but is readily swung to an upstanding position for picking up and carrying the marker.

In addition to serving as a means to hold the band 2 on the body I, the outwardly deformed annular shoulder beads 3 and 4' tend to prevent tires or other bodies from scuffing the reflective substance 5 on the exterior surface of said band.

The described marker is adapted to be manufactured in the following manner:

Referring to Fig. 3, the numeral II indicates generally a horizontal mold which includes a plurality of relatively shallow, annular mold pans l2; each pan including a bottom 13 and upwardly flaring sides I4. Each mold pan I2 is of a size and configuration to form the lower, inverted frusto-conical portion of the body I.

Preparatory to pouring each concrete body I, one of the initially separate metallic bands '2 is disposed, as a shell, in coaxially located relation on one of the mold pans 2, with the lower annular head 4 in matching relation with a corresponding annular groove [5 about the upper edge of said pan.

With the metallic band 2 in place on a mold pan I2, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, concrete is poured into such assembly from above, and is finished ed at the top of said band; the socket 6 being embedded in the concrete before it sets.

After the concrete sets, the body I is withdrawn from the mold pan l2, with the metallic band 2 in fixed connection with said body. Such metallic band 2 is held fixedly'on the body by reason of the fact that the concrete of the body I extends into the upper and lower beads 3 and 4, with a holding effect; i. e. locking the metallic band 2 against axial displacement.

The described road marker is very practical and reliable, being durable in structure, resistant to displacement or upsetting, and most effective in use either during daylight, or under the influence of vehicle headlights at night.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail 'may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A road marker comprising a portable but relatively heavy cylindrical body, the upper portion of the concrete body tapering toward the top, said tapered portion having upper and lower edges defined by annular outwardly projecting shoulder elements whereby the outer surface of said tapered portion of the body between said elements is relatively recessed, and a light reflective material applied to said relatively irecessed surface for its full circumference; the concrete body and said tapered upper portion thereof being matchingly engaged by a metallic band of substantial width vertically, said band having initially radially inwardly opening beads deformed outwardly at the'upper and lower edges of said band, said beads comprising the shoulder elements, and the concrete of the body being cast in the band and extending into said beads in holding relation.

W ELTON L. A IORSER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

